Charge control system for storage batteries



Sept. 19, 1944. G, BEETEM 2,358,681

CHARGE CNTROL `SYSTEM FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Jan. 6, 1944 swam@ Bwmv Patented Sept. 19, 1944 CHARGE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STORAGE BATTERIE Frank G. Beetem, Philadelphia, ya., assigner to The Electric Storage Battery Oompmyfa corporation of New Jersey Application January 6, 1944, Serial No. 517,192

ZiCiaims. (Ci. 'S20- 11) This invention relates to systems for controlling the charging of storage batteries; and, more particularly, to systems in which two charging sources are provided whereof one or both are automatically connected for charging the battery, depending upon load conditions.

An object of the invention is to provide such a charging system comprising a storage battery and its load circuit and two charging sources, with means for periodically and at predetermined time intervals establishing the charging circuit for the first charging source if. disconnected, means responsive to battery voltage for interrupting said charging circuit, and means responsive to the load conditions for establishing the charging circuit for the second charging source.

Another object of the invention is to provide a charging system as above described including means for establishing the charging circuit of the second charging source independently of the load conditions, should the first charging source fail to function when its charging circuit is established.

Another object of the invention is to provide a charging system as above described including means responsive to a predetermined high battery voltage for interrupting the circuits of whatever charging sources are connected te the battery. K

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the single figure represents diagrammatically an Vemi)otiirrlent oi vthe invention.

In the drawing, i and ii are the conductors of an A. C. supply circuit adapted to furnish charging current to the storage battery l2 and its load circuit i2a through the rectifiers i3 and it, whereof rectifier i 3 is arranged and connected to supply charging current to the battery under normal load conditions and rectifier i4 is arranged to supply charging current in parallel with rectifier i3 under unusually heavy load conditions.

Rectiiier i3 includes a transformer whose primary coil I3a is connected to A. C. conductor il via conductor I5 on the one side and on the other side to A. C. conductor l0 via conductor I6, contacts Il 'of contacter i8, and conductor i9. The secondary winding I3b of transformer i3 is connected to the storage battery l2 on the one side via conductors 20 and 2i and on the y other side through electronic rectier 22, con,-

ductor 23, coil 24a of contactor 24, conductor 25,

`contacts 26 of contacter i8 and conductors 21 3| of battery voltage responsive relay 32 and con- -til ductors 33 and 34. The circuit of the exciting coil 32a of relay 32 is controlled by the timer 35 which comprises the synchronous motor 36 connected to the A. C. circuit lil, ii via conductors 3l and 38, said motor driving, by means of the worm gear 39, the electrically conducting disk 40. In the periphery of the disk 4i) is an insulating insert 4i. The brush 42 makes contact continuously with the conducting disk 40 while the brush 43 bears against the periphery of disk 40 so that once in each revolution of the disk the circuit is interrupted by lthe insulating insert 4|.

The circuit of the exciting coil 32a, may be traced from the negative terminal of the battery via. conductors 25, M. and 45; coil 32a., conductor 46, brush 43, disk d@ and brush 42 of timer 35, and conductors 4l and 2i to the positive terminal oi the battery.

Rectifier it includes a transformer whose primary coil Ma is connected on the one side to A. C. conductor ii via conductor 48 and on the other side to A. C. conductor it via conductor 49. contacts 5t# of contacter tl, conductors 52 and 32. The secondary Winding it'o of transformer la connected en the one side by conduct-or 53 to the positive terminal of the battery i? and on the other side via ctier 515, con ductcr t5, contacts and conductors 5l and M to the negative terminal of 'the battery. The exciting coil tia of contacter 5i is connected on the one side to la. C. conductor iii via conductor 58, contacts 3i and conductors 33 and 34 and on the other side to A. C. conductor ii via conductors 59 and Sil, contacts 6i of series load relay 62 and conductors 83 and i5. In shunt across contacts Gi is a, circuit comprising conductors 63 and 64, auxiliary contacts of contactor I8, conductor 66, contacts 8l of contactor 24 and conductors B8 and Sil.

The exciting coil 62a of series load relay 62 is connected in series between the negative battery terminal and the load circuit I2a via conductors 69 and 10, with an adjustable shunt 1| for adjusting the proportion of the load current passing through coil 62a.

I'he operation of the apparatus labove described is as follows:

so long as the battery vonage is below that for which relay 32 is adjusted to lift its armature, contacts 3l will remain closed and excitingcoil Itawlllbeenersizedfromthemc. circuit I0, II via conductors Il and 23, coil Ita, conductor 30, contacts 3l and conductors 33 and 34. This will close contacts i? and 28. The closing of contacts Il connects the primary windings 13a to the A. C. circuit vla conductor I9, contacts I'I, conductor I3, winding Ila and conductor I 5. The closing of contacts 2B connects the secondary winding I3b to the battery via conductors 2l and 2li, winding Ilb, rectifier 22, conductor 23, coil 24a, conductor 25, contacts 26 and conductors 21 and 28. The rectifier i3 will therefore be delivering charging current to the battery. This charging current in coil 24a will hold contacts 81 open. When the voltage of the battery increases to a value corresponding to a point on the steep part of the charge-voltage curve near the end of charge, say about 2.3 volts per cell, battery voltage responsive relay 32 will open its contacts, thus opening the exciting circuit of coil I8a. and opening the contacts il and 26, thereby interrupting the charging current When, thereafter, the rotation of the timer disk 4U brings the insulating insert ill under brush d3, the excitation of coll 32a be interrupted. the contacts 3l will reclose, again closing the exciting circuit of coil la and reestablishing the charging circuit. If, prior to this charging period the battery has been subjected to but little discharge, its voltage will promptly rise to the value at which relay 32 operates again to terminate the charge. lf,

. however, the battery has been subjected to contery voltage resulting from discharge, will be required to release its armature, so that the contacts 3|, once opened, will remain open regardless of any normal drop in battery voltage, until the exciting circuit of coil 32a is opened at the timing disk.

32 are opened, the excitation of both coils Ita and Ila will be interrupted and the charging circuits of both rectiilers I3 and Il will be disconnected by contactors I8 and 5I, respectively.

The second rectifier, Il, is also arranged to perform another function, i. e., to act as a reserve source of charging current, independently of load conditions, should rectifier I3 fail. In

case of such failure, rectiner I3. will not deliver its normal output through coil 24a when contactor I3 is closed in response to the opening of the exciting current of coil 32a by the timer 3l. 'I'hus contacts 61 will be closed and auxiliary contacts 65 will also be closed, establishing the` shunt circuit around contacts 6I of series load relay 82 via conductors B0 and 58, contacts 61, conductor 68, contacts t5 and conductor 64. This will close the exciting circuit of coil Sla, independently of relay 62, thereby closing the contacts of contacter 5I and establishing the charging circuits of rectifier I4. If under these conditions the battery voltage rises by reason of the charging current to a point which opens the contacts 3| of voltage responsive relay 32, the excitation of coils lila and Sla will be interrupted, the contacts of contactors I8 and 5I will open, thus opening the charging circuits, of both rectiers it and it.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art of charging current to the battery whereof the I first is normally closed and the second is nor- Under unusually heavy load conditions, the

load may exceed the output of rectier I3, and the battery will be subjected to a continuous discharge. To meet these conditions, the second rectier Il is provided, with means for establishing its charging circuit, comprising the series load relay 62. When the load reaches the value at which the excitation of coil 32a is sufiicient to close contacts 6I, the exciting circuit of coil Sla will be closed through the circuit from A. C. conductor I0 via conductors 34 and 33, contacts 3|, conductor 58. coil Bla, conductors 59 and 60, contacts 6I, conductors 63 and I5 to A. C. conductor II, thus closing contacts and 56. This will connect the primary winding Ila to the A. C. circuit I0. Il, and the secondary winding Mb to the battery through rectier 5t, thus adding the output of rectier I 4 to that of rectifier I3, thereby increasing the charging rate to compensate for the increased load. When, in response to increased battery charge voltage, the contacts 3| of relay mally open, means responsive to a predetermined elevated battery voltage for reducing the current through the first of said paths, timing means for periodically nullifying the operation of said reducing means to permit the transmis# sion of full charging current, and means responsive to increase of load on the load circuit for closing the second transmitting path.

2. In a charge control system for a storage battery, the combination with the battery and its load circuit of two paths for the transmission of charging currentu to the battery whereof the iirst is normally closed and the second is Vnormally open, means responsive to a predetermined elevated battery voltage for reducing the current through the rst of said paths, timing means for periodically nullifying the operation of said reducing means to permit the transmission of full charging current, means responsive to increase of load on the load circuit for closing the second transmitting path, and means controlled by the operation of said timing means and responsiveto the failure of said timing means to restore full charge current through said rst path for closing the second transmitting path independently of the operation of said load responsive means. FRANK G. BEETEM. 

